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Original Message
"Archetypes"
Posted by Devious Weasel on 04-06-05 at 05:23 PM
ar•che•type (NOUN):

1. An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned; a prototype 2. An ideal example of a type; an archetype of the successful entrepreneur.

It seems like we have far more contestants this year that fit an musical archetype than we have in the past. Bo is the rocker. Carrie is the country singer. Nikko is the R&B singer. Constantine is the pop singer. Vonzell is turning into the diva. Anwar is the jazzy guy. Nadia is the funky girl. Only Anthony and Scott don’t fit a standard musical archetype, unless you count Aiken-wannabe or soulful thug as archetypes.

There are several questions this brings to mind. First, is the reason the competition this season is so much better than past seasons directly due to the fact that the performers know who they are as singers? Is that why the competition last season was so crappy, cause the performers, even the eventual final two, didn’t really have an idea who they were as singers? Is it just coincidence that the two worst singers left this season are the two singers who don’t really have a musical identity of their own? Once Scott and Anthony are gone, might it become a battle of which style of singing the audience prefers rather than the singers themselves?


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Messages in this discussion
"RE: Archetypes"
Posted by DearAbby on 04-06-05 at 06:13 PM

>Only Anthony and Scott don’t fit a standard musical archetype,
>unless you count Aiken-wannabe or soulful thug as archetypes.

*snort*

"RE: Archetypes"
Posted by TeamJoisey on 04-06-05 at 06:23 PM
Archietypes: Freckled redheaded dweebs.(See Stevens, John.) Often found in proximity to Jughead. (See Weasel, Devious and the Lohan Two.)



These reality show contestants need a reality check!

"RE: Archetypes"
Posted by ginger on 04-06-05 at 06:32 PM
I wonder if the fact that this group is "older" is why so many more singers seem to have "found their identities" (archetypes). As an ancient and decrepit person myself, I was going to point to the maturity/experience of the group overall as a reason for the superiority in candidate field (this season over the last three).

To some extent, people seem to vote the "type" they like, but I can't honestly say what archetype Clay was, at least for the first two thirds of his season, so I think it's really more a gut level reaction to an individual candidate that drives voters (as well as misc. outside factors, like being from the same state or feeling sorry for a candidate).

When the singers risk going outside their archetype, they are sometimes lauded, but most often fail. You would think this would point to a weakness in the "typed" candidates and a greater flexibilty among the others. But, ultimately, I think you're right; the confidence of the singer that knows his/her niche triumphs over experimentation.

So in answer to Prof. Weasel's queries:

Yes, at least in part.
Yes, at least in part. Or maybe they were just crappier.
Nope.
Yep.




Good food for thought. What's for dessert?

"RE: Archetypes"
Posted by TODDLJ on 04-06-05 at 06:42 PM
Very much agreed, Weasel. Much has been made in the past about vote-splitting, and I think this ties into your discussion.

Anthony tried to do the pop-boy thing, but Constantine may have now replaced him. Scott tried to do the R&B 'White Ruben' thing, but was not successful, and Nikko has those votes now.

I worry about Nadia, because her 'funky girl' title isn't a very clear archetype. I imagine Vonzell is now capturing votes which used to be Nadia's... and eventually Nadia will fall due to this.

When we're left with Country Carrie, Pop Connie, R&B Nikko, Jazz Anwar and Soul 'Diva' Vonzell, then things should get interesting. My bet is that there are more sheer voter numbers in Pop and Country than in Soul, Jazz, or R&B.